Daniel Wolfram
Halloween does not have to be just a spooky time. It can also be good for your health.
Halloween is synonymous with horror movies and scary films. For some, the movies are not for the faint of heart, but some may want to reconsider.
Those movies are not only meant to get you in the mood for spooky October; they can also help you stay healthy.
Researchers have found that watching horror movies will help you burn calories.
Watching a scary movie is equal to a 30-minute walk
A study from 2012 done by researchers at the University of Westminster in Britain found that people who watched a 90-minute horror movie burned up to 113 calories on average.
That is roughly the same output as a 30-minute walk. The more a movie has “jump-scare” moments that get viewers out of their seats, the more likely they are to burn calories because of how high the heart rate increases.
“As the pulse quickens and blood pumps around the body faster, the body experiences a surge in adrenaline,” said Dr Richard Mackenzie to The Guardian.
The ten scariest movies that make you burn the most calories
Helen Cowley, a marketing director at Amazon Prime Video, recommends that you have your eyes peeled to the TV or theater screen in order to get the most out of your horror-movie workout.
“We all know the feeling of wanting to hide behind the sofa or grab a pillow when watching scary or hair-raising scenes, but this research suggests that maybe those seeking to burn some calories should keep their eyes on the screen.”
The researchers tapped 10 participants and experimented with films that evoked fear and adrenaline. Here are the top 10 scary movies that burn the most energy:
The Shining: 184 calories
Jaws: 161 calories
The Exorcist: 158 calories
Alien: 152 calories
Saw: 133 calories
A Nightmare on Elm Street: 118 calories
Paranormal Activity: 111 calories
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 107 calories
The Blair Witch Project: 105 calories
[Rec]: 101 calories
